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While the human eye can practically cope only with two aspects of light, brightness and colour, for many animals polarization is a further source of visual information.

This fascinating phenomenon of polarization sensitivity is comprehensively treated by Horváth and Varjú. Starting with a short introduction into imaging polarimetry – an efficient technique for measuring light polarization – various polarization patterns occurring in nature are presented. Among them are the polarizational characteristics of water surfaces, mirages and the underwater light field as well as the celestial polarization patterns affected by the illumination conditions of sunrise, sunset, clear or cloudy skies, moonshine and total solar eclipses.

The major part of Polarized Light in Animal Vision is dedicated to the question: How can animals perceive and use the natural and artificial polarization patterns? Following a detailed compendium of the physiological basis of polarization sensitivity, several case studies of animal behaviour determined or influenced by polarization are presented. It is shown how arial, terrestrial and aquatic animals use the celestial and underwater polarization for orientation, e. g. how polarized light serves honeybees or ants as a compass. Further, it is explained how man-made objects affecting the natural optical environment may disorientate animals. For instance, as in the case where oil or glass surfaces, asphalt roads, or plastic sheets used in agriculture can be more attractive for water-seeking polarotactic insects than the water surface, and where mayflies lay their eggs on dry asphalt roads or cars.

Contents

Part I: Imaging Polarimetry1 Polarimetry: From Point-Source to Imaging Polarimeters

Part II: Polarization Patterns in Nature2 Space-Borne Measurement of Earthlight Polarization3 Skylight Polarization4 Principal Neutral Points of Atmospheric Polarization5 24-Hour Change of the Polarization Pattern of the Summer Sky North of the Arctic Circle6 Polarization Patterns of Cloudy Skies and Animal Orientation7 Ground-Based Full-Sky Imaging Polarimetric Cloud Detection8 Polarization Pattern of the Moonlit Clear Night Sky at Full Moon: Comparison of Moonlit and Sunlit Skies9 Imaging Polarimetry of the Rainbow10 Which Part of the Spectrum is Optimal for Perception of Skylight Polarization?11 Polarization of the Sky and the Solar Corona During Total Solar Eclipses12 Reflection-Polarization Pattern of the Flat Water Surface Measured by 180° Field-of-View Imaging Polarimetry13 Polarization Pattern of a Fata Morgana: Why Aquatic Insects are not Attracted by Mirages?14 Polarizational Characteristics of the Underwater World15 Circularly Polarized Light in Nature